First drive review: 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc (your world)!

Who's the T-Roc aimed at?

Volkswagen reckons the T-Roc is for the individualists, the disruptors, the wave-makers among us. While the smaller T-Cross is for the young, practical, and outdoorsy family, the larger T-Roc is all about attitude, defiance, and driving fun. It’s not cheap either, so the person who buys the T-Roc is career-driven, successful, and probably quite stylish and fashionable. For these trendsetters, there are 25 different exterior colour combinations available and a selection of colourful interiors to choose from. 

The T-Roc-is based on the same MQB platform as the Golf, but it’s a smidgen wider and a little shorter. Ground clearance is obviously higher than the Golf but lower than the T-Cross, for better road holding and driving dynamics. The T-Roc also offers considerably more interior space than the T-Cross, and its boot can swallow larger amounts of luggage, but it's in the looks department where the T-Roc really stands out. It looks smart, sophisticated, sassy and sexy - more like a sports coupé than a family crossover. In my opinion, the coolest design feature is the D-shaped daytime running lights that change colour when you want to change direction.

These white DRLs turn into orange side indicators.

 

As we have mentioned before, there are two engines to be had, along with two trim levels: the T-Roc Design (more focused on style and individualisation) and T-Roc R-Line, which is more focused on performance. As is customary with any German car, you have the option of ordering your dream T-Roc with everything from multi-toned leather seats to adaptive cruise control to the Beats sound system; as many options as your money allows, really. But if you take a good look at the standard spec sheet (at the bottom of this article), you’ll realise that there are plenty of upmarket tech-, safety-, and comfort features that won’t cost you an extra cent.

Related: Virtual launch of the T-Roc for SA

This Energetic Orange Metallic body colour makes for outstanding visibility on cloudy days, and will be easy to spot in a crowded parking lot! This is the 1.4TSI Design variant.

Pricing is as follows:

1.4TSI 110kW Design Tiptronic, R489 400 (0 - 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds)

2.0 TSI 140kW Design DSG, R548 300 (0 - 100 km in 7.2 seconds)

2.0 TSI 140kW R-Line DSG (also 0 - 100km/h in 7.2 seconds)

Driving the T-Roc

In order to obtain a lively colour for the sake of the photographs, my co-driver made a beeline for the Energetic Orange Metallic 1.4TSI Design variant (pictured). We loaded our bags into the spacious 445-litre boot, and I made myself comfortable in the front passenger seat while my co-pilot adjusted the 3-spoke leather steering wheel and seat positioning (lumbar support is standard). As soon as we had exited the Lanzerac wine estate, we found ourselves in the midst of Stellenbosch’s rush-hour school traffic. 

Our T-Roc was fitted with the optional I.Q. Drive Package which is rated as Level 1 autonomous driving. Functionality includes adaptive cruise control, enabling you to set the desired speed and following distance between your T-Roc and the car in front. We put this to the test immediately, and we had just started cruising leisurely in stop-and-go traffic, when a lady in a white Prado cut in front of us. In an instant, the Autonomous Emergency braking kicked in and a nasty fender-bender was averted. This is life-saving technology, especially around schools, as this system (teamed with Front Assist) will make the car stop for cyclists as well as pedestrians. Once we had completed the N2 freeway section of the launch route, we changed seats, so I could experience the T-Roc for myself.

We soon found ourselves in Gordon’s Bay for a drive down picturesque Clarence Drive, that famously twisty piece of coastal road that’s rated as one of the Top 10 best driving roads in the world. It runs from Gordon's Bay to Rooi-Els, then on to Pringle Bay and Betty's Bay, ending in Kleinmond. This is where the T-Roc's Golf DNA could clearly be felt: The T-Roc’s coupé-like-shape slips through the air with minimal drag, it doesn’t lean much in the corners, and the 1.4TSI engine is enthusiastic and energetic; definitely no shortage of power here!  The entry-level T-Roc doesn’t come with a DSG gearbox, but an 8-speed tiptronic unit. It’s not as smooth or as quick to downshift as the 7-speed DSG, but the more enthusiastic driver will probably opt for the new 2.0-litre TSI models anyway.

Infotainment and comfort features

I requested my co-driver to link my iPhone to the infotainment system, following which Apple CarPlay connected wirelessly (wireless CarPlay forms part of the Discover Media package, R17 300). The graphics on the 8-inch colour screen are crystal clear and, while I did miss having shortcut buttons, the system itself is quick and slick. The optional Beats sound system enhances your favourite driving music, and from an ergonomics point of view, you’ll hear no complaints from me. The voice control system, however, had trouble deciphering local town- and street-names when using the Discover Pro Sat-nav, but at least Siri could help us out via Google Maps.

Should you not have R17 300 handy, you will still get the 8-inch Composition Media system as standard, as well as App Connect and Smartphone connectivity with 2 USB ports in front and 2 in the rear. Other nice-to-haves (standard across the board) include Light Assist (high-beam control), cornering lamps, a tyre pressure monitoring system, park distance control (front and rear), drawers under the front seats, a multi-adjustable armrest cubby, dual-zone climate control, and ambient interior lighting, to name but a few!

Leather seats are standard in the R-Line versions, and so is the Active Info digital display.

A rainy Tuesday morning in the T-Roc 2.0TSI 140kW R-Line DSG 

The next morning we could see storm clouds brewing on the horizon, and after breakfast, the sky opened up. We made sure to hop into a 2.0 4MOTION R-Line model to make good use of the four-wheel-drive system on the wet tarmac. With 140kW, 320Nm, lower profile tyres, and a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission, there was plenty of fun to be had without any reason for worry, as a multitude of electronic nannies (such as ESP with counter-steer support) are on standby in case you get a little carried away, throwing the T-Roc’s nose into sharp bends. By the time we reached Sir Lowry’s Pass, it was time to slow down to about 40 km/h - the rain came down so hard that visibility was down to almost zero. It was a slow drive back to town, but the T-Roc is so comprehensively equipped with safety features, that driving in the torrential downpour was more of an inconvenience than a life-threatening situation. 

The flagship R-Line version will leave you with an itchy right foot and a grin on your face.

 

Once we had arrived back in Stellenbosch, the rain had ceased momentarily, allowing me to scoot in behind the driver's seat to check out leg room, interior features, and build quality. I was quite impressed with the amount of available space, although the person sitting in the middle seat would have to be relatively slender and not very tall. Rear air-vents are a nice addition to keep the rear occupants comfortable.

 

 

 

 

Verdict

The sexy T-Roc is not just for the upmarket urban crew - opt for the 2.0TSI 4MOTION models with VW’s Driving Profile Selection (Eco, Sport, Comfort, Off-road) and ‘4Motion Live’ (Auto, Snow, Off-road & Individual settings) and you have a spacious, sporty-looking SUV with oodles of attitude, that can easily be taken to Sodwana bay on a diving trip. Just bear in mind that the ground clearance isn’t all that high, and sticking to the standard 17-inch Mayfield wheels (on the Design models) is advised.

Yes, you can take the T-Roc off-road, just don't go rock-crawling. Ground clearance is 161 mm on the 4MOTION models.

 

For the city and the occasional dirt-road trip, the front-wheel drive 1.4TSI model will be more than enough, as it's just over a second slower than the 2.0TSI in the 0-100 km sprint. It also has a slightly larger boot than the 2.0-litre models, who have to sacrifice some loading space to accommodate the 4WD system.

Judging from the amount of enthusiasm with which the T-Roc has been met locally, we are convinced that it’s going to be a sure-fire hit. It seems pricey, but if you take into consideration what its natural competitors (such as the Audi Q2, BMW X2, and Volvo XC40) are offering at a higher price, you realise the T-Roc is actually very good value for money, and you could easily get away without adding any extras at all. For the full list of T-Roc specifications, please download the brochure here. 

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